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 Vol.10 

Between Translation and Transformation: Examining the German Translation of E-PLAN Scripts from the Perspective of Functional Translation


Author
An-Nie Hsu
Synopsis

The College of Foreign Languages at Fu Jen Catholic University is developing the ”Language and Cross-Cultural Animated Learning Platform” for the E-Plan Project on Cross-Cultural Communication in aim to establish a learning channel that not only helps to enhance the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, but also cultivates cross-cultural communication skills for learners of foreign languages. Therefore, the translation of animation scripts must also achieve the aforementioned two functions, as the animation clips are the main learning materials.The team in charge of translation into German consists of two German lecturers and one Taiwanese instructor. Two levels --a total of 27 units--are translated through the process of ”Discussion → Translation → Proofreading → Discussion→Modification”. Since translation in itself is a form of communication, this paper will examine the process of translation into German through the perspective of cross-cultural communication, presenting the three aspects--”Differentiation!”, ”Translation?”, and ”Transformation” -- of the cross-cultural exchanges and dialogues between German and Chinese translators, as well as between the original texts, translated texts, and the characters in the animation clips. Also, through Christiane Nord’s translation theory of ”Function Plus Loyalty”, the paper examines the different strategies adopted by the translation team in response to language and cultural differences, and at the same time verifies that ”translation” is a physical practice of cross-cultural and cross-language communication.